Which Massachusetts Gas Saving Plan Would You Prefer?

One more thing. This is a typical political trap on the way to tyranny - propose one thing that's just so objectionable that no one will go for, so that you can then propose something else that doesn't sound quite as bad, which is the one you really wanted in the first place.

I wouldn't be quite so opposed to the gas tax if the money was actually used to maintain roads, but you know that's not the case. What enrages me even more is the setting of arbitrary speed limits and the unsafe manipulation of traffic lights in conjunction with red-light cameras for revenue generation.

The 19% number was a trial balloon, the real number now being presented is 5-6%. The other alternative presented was a drastic increase in tolls on the Mass Pike, that was also met with howls from the public. The infrastructure here in MA is decaying and revenues are down, so the money has to come from somewhere - might as well be the users of the roads. I agree with Stovt001, the gas tax needs to be pegged specifically to roadwork or it will disappear into general funding like the tobacco suit money did.

Raise the gas tax by 19 cents (not percent). MA gasoline isn't overtaxed at this point. I'm willing to bet money, it hasn't kept up with inflation (no inflation right now, but there was before).

As others have indicated, the tax had better go toward it's intended purpose.

The gas tax is probably the best idea, but should be combined with removing the tolls from the Mass Pike, especially if the people whose salary the gas tax helps to pay for go on "strike" by taking sick days during important travel days such as Easter Sunday and leaving thousands of travellers stranded on the Mass Pike. The gas tax is probably the most equitable way of increasing revenues, as a GPS counter to measure mileage seems wrong as not all miles traveled are equal. Would a 30 mile highway trip that takes about 1 gallon of gas and 15 minutes be taxed the same as a 30 mile trip around your town which could take over an hour and several gallons? There are simply too many questions and variables in my opinion. The gas tax is something we know...get rid of the tolls to stop unfairly taxing those that live west of the city, or institute tolls for every major artery into boston. It is the only fair way.

Any time you tax a fuel, you shift the supply/demand curve in the country's favor. Every penny that goes to the State is a penny that doesn't line the pockets of Saudi oil men or Exxon execs. While opponents think that gas prices will simply jump 19 cents, keep in mind that demand will go down, putting added pressure on oil companies to drop prices to match.